Our favourite funk girl, Val Watson, impressed us with her first two solo albums Urbal and Live At The Funk Lounge after she had enjoyed her first success with Club Nouveau back in the 80s.If you wanna know what she did all these years and why it took her so long to release a solo album you should read the jazz-not-jazz interview with Val.
Q: 1. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard from you before the release of your Urbal album. And that was on the Club Nouveau album from 1995 Everything Is Black. Please tell me what have you done in the meantime.
Val Watson: Well, pretty much I’ve been having babies - my first son was born April 1996 - and recording Urbal. Gerald and I finally finished mixing Urbal late in the summer of 1999. It had to be then because when we were doing the photo shoot for the artwork, I was pregnant with my third child. She was born in February 2000. In June of that year I toured with United We Funk (band consisting of S.O.S. Band, Gap Band, Barkays, Dazz Band, and ConFunkShun. That was a blast! It was also intimidating because Charlie Wilson (Gap Band) does not play. He expects perfection on stage. I toured with them off and on for about three years. Club Nouveau also did some shows with them after Gap left. Speaking of the Club; I’ve been doing shows with them also. During the years since 1995, I’ve also had the honor of working with some of the best musicians the industry has to offer. I’ve toured with the West Coast All-Stars and performed with musicians such as Tom Scott, Eric Merianthal and a host of others. I’ve had the opportunity to perform the Urbal material and hone my skills as a solo artist. Completely different bag. I had been so used to performing with Club Nouveau and as a background singer. I’m still getting comfortable with being at the front of the stage on my own. Not so much the singing; it’s the talking part that gets me. I’m not the one for idle chatter. I like to get to the point and be done with it. For me, the point is the song. Anyway, in 2003 I gave birth to my fourth child (third son). He is the joy I never expected. Currently, I am prepping my next album; writing songs, choosing tracks, brainstorming concepts. In betwixt all that I’m caring for my children and contemplating going back to school to finish my degree in Mathematical/Computational Sciences. Fun stuff! I’m a little nervous, but excited at the same time!!!
Q: What does Urbal mean and why did you create that word?
Val Watson: Urbal is “urban alternative”. We created it because we felt that the kind of music we’re doing is a viable and relevant alternative to the urban music that is currently being pushed onto the consumer.
>>>continue